Fillers

Dr. Cassel is the only physician in the mid-Atlantic states to have researched all of the available (and unavailable) fillers, publishing the most comprehensive review article to date with Dr. Emmy Fernandez in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology on facial fillers—“Soft Tissue Augmentation: a review”. This is the article to which other physicians commonly refer, and it is available for your review in our waiting room.

Dr. Cassel only uses filling products that she would use on family members or herself; thus, she will not use products with questionable safety data or a potential for long-term side effects.

 

Products Recommended by Dr. Cassel:

  • Hyaluronic acid products—Restylane®, Juvederm®, Voluma®—these are made of the same substance, which helps to lubricate our joints. Hyaluronic acid is a sticky, jelly-like substance with soft turgor. It is very unlikely to cause allergic reactions (whereas in the past, many patients would develop allergies to collagen products). This is an excellent option for patients who would like to try a filler but are scared of potential side effects. It lasts for 6 months in the skin and helps to fill in lines such as those under the nose/lips. It may also be used to augment the lips.
  • Calcium hydroxyapatite—Radiesse®– Made of calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel, Radiesse is injected into the skin through a simple and minimally invasive procedure, giving you immediate, visible improvement of folds and wrinkles, and providing long-lasting (12 months) results. Offering clinically proven safety and longevity, Radiesse is a convenient treatment that stimulates the body to produce new collagen, often with just one or two office visits.
  • Poly-L-lactic acid—Sculptra®– poly-L-lactic acid has been successfully used in surgical operations for more than 25 years. If you have had a surgery, you likely had deep biodegradable sutures made of this material. Sculptra™ was specially developed to repair facial scars and contour defects, and more than 150,000 patients have been treated worldwide since 1999. It is used to correct: deep folds between the nose and the mouth, folds around the corners of the mouth, sunken cheeks, wrinkles and lines in the cheeks or chin, and deep scars. Sculptra is similar to a seed; it is injected into the area under the dermis and results in stimulation of your body to produce collagen. Thus, results are not immediate but are dramatic over time. Benefits become noticeable within 6 weeks. Many patients require a series of 3 treatments for full improvement, but the improvement is significant, which is why in Europe this is called the “liquid facelift”. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the results of Sculptra can last for over three years. Biopsies performed at the end of the first year demonstrate almost no remaining product at the site of injection—only new collagen, produced by the patient’s own fibroblasts.

Before Your Visit

Please be sure to bring a list of all medications and allergies. If you are covered by an insurance plan that requires prior authorization, the authorization or referral form must be presented to our office before or at the time of your appointment. It is your responsibility to obtain necessary referrals. If you don’t have one, we will ask you to sign a waiver stating you are responsible for the bill. Payment will then be expected at the time of service. Please bring your insurance cards to each visit so the information can be checked and a copy placed in your chart.

Financial Information

Your insurance coverage is an agreement between you and your insurance company. Financial responsibility rests with the patient for deductibles, co-insurances, and non-covered services. Insurance coverage is a variable, and we cannot guarantee what services will be covered by your particular plan. We request that you sign an authorization form, which will enable us to receive insurance payments directly when applicable. Co-payments are due at the time of service. For your convenience, we accept personal checks, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and cash.

A no-show fee of $50.00 will be charged to patients who fail to appear for their appointment and provide less than 24 hours' notice of cancellation.

Pathology, Labs, and X-rays

Surgical specimens are sent to a laboratory for analysis. The fee for this is a separate charge from the office visit and may be billed directly by the processing lab. Results are usually available 7-10 days after the test has been performed. Questions regarding payments for laboratory services should be directed to the laboratory.

Prescription Refills

Prescription refill requests will be taken only during regular office hours.